Staged interventional solution for a diagnostic dilemma caused by hypoplastic left ventricle with severe aortic arch hypoplasia

Duct dependent aortic arch obstruction with borderline left ventricular hypoplasia presents a diagnostic dilemma. If the left ventricle (LV) is adequate to sustain systemic cardiac output without a patent duct, arch obstruction is relieved surgically and duct is divided. Inadequate LVs do not tolerate duct division, and these patients need more complex Norwood type surgeries. However, catheter-based interventions for arch obstruction can retain ductal patency. The progressive changes in anatomy and physiology of a neonate who presented with hypoplastic left heart structures and patent duct with advancing age and modified by serial catheter-based interventions are presented to highlight the use of interventions in this therapeutic dilemma.